The NUI Galway Society Awards took place on Wednesday, 9 April, in the Galway Bay Hotel. Seventeen awards were presented at the gala event which celebrated the contribution over 80 Societies make both to the University and the wider community. President of NUI Galway, Dr. Jim Browne, in his speech, congratulated the Societies on their outstanding achievements, the calibre of the events which they organise and the man hours that they contribute through volunteering as part of the Societies he said, "This year alone the hours volunteered by members of Societies' committees is the equivalent of the number hours worked by 53 full time workers in one year. In the last five years the Societies have raised over €900,000 for charity". The winners on the night will represent the University at the BICS National Society Awards in Dundalk IT on 17 April, 2008. The coveted Best Society of the Year Award went to the 'Business Society' for the professionalism they brought to their numerous and varied events during the year. In 2006 they won best new Society in Ireland at the BICS Awards. Best Improved Society went to the 'Musical Society' (GUMS), for their busy year which saw the society branch out into new directions. In addition to their 'Back to the 80's' musical they also organised the 'NUI Galway Schools Musical Awards' which took place in NUI Galway recently with the top prize going to Ballinrobe Community School for 'The Wiz'. Best New Society went to the 'Nothing Specific Society' whose main aim is to bring fun and foolishness to campus, their next event will be 'Meal or no Meal'. Best Society Individual went to Law student Laura Freyne from Knock, Co. Mayo, for her contribution to campus life through her leadership of the International Students Society. Best Fresher went to Nora Ní Dhomhnaill from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, who is studying first-year Denominated History, Nora is a committee member of An Cumann Starr and the Literary and Debating Society. Best Event went to the Rotaract Society for their 'Socs in the City Fashion Show' which raised over €12,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. The other awards on the night were: Best Departmental Society: Law Society; Best Poster: The Musical Society for their 'Back to the 80's' Poster; Best Website to Cumann Satire (History Society) for http://www.cumannstaire.oegaillimh.ie/; Best Charity Event: Art Society Rag Week Fundraisers; Best Cultural Contribution: Malaysian Society for 'Malaysian Cultural Week'; Best Small Publication: International Students Society Pirate Treasure Hunt booklet; and Best Multi Media/ Large Publication: Business Society for the 'Cairnes Review'; Best Photograph to the Chess Society. Two Múscailt prizes were also presented to the Orchestra and Dansoc and the best contribution to Múscailt Arts Festival award went to Lit & Deb and Law Soc for their Trials of Oscar Wilde and Barn Dance. Ends

Molecular scientists at NUI Galway will play a leading role in the newly formed GlycoScience Ireland group launched today (Tuesday, 8 April). Glycoscience is the study of the glycans (complex sugars) that surround all cells including human cells. GlycoScience Ireland brings together scientists working in this field in order to apply their expertise to the Biopharmaceutical and Food industries. GlycoScience Ireland will encourage inter-disciplinary collaboration between glycoscientists, biologists, chemists, engineers, information scientists and clinicians. The Group will also provide a forum for communication and interaction between Irish glycoscientists and industry representatives for the translation of glycoscience discoveries into commercial realities. NUI Galway' s involvement is being led by Professor Lokesh Joshi, who recently joined the University's National Centre for Biomedical Engineering as Stokes Professor of Glycosciences. Professor Joshi explained "Glycans play crucial roles in almost all biological interactions at molecular and cellular levels, including fertilization, immune regulation, cancer and infectious diseases. Despite their underpinning role in biological processes, study in this area has lagged behind genomics and proteomics. With the global competition in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical research continually shifting, Ireland needs to harness the synergy of existing skills to remain in the leadership position in this emerging research frontier". GlycoScience Ireland Launch is being co-sponsored by The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and the Centre for BioAnalytical Sciences (CBAS), of which Professor Joshi is Associate Director. For further information visit http://www.glycoscienceireland.ie/ -ends-

Students from the College of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway have secured two out of four prestigious awards from The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT). The annual CILT awards were announced recently by Mr. John Murphy, Assistant Secretary from the Department of Transport at a special awards ceremony. The awards are presented to the originators of ideas which judges consider to be the most innovative and which could make the most significant contribution to some aspect of transport in Ireland. The NUI Galway winners were Industrial Engineering students Therese O'Meara from Toomevara, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, who won the Safety & Environment Category and Ciarán Coughlan of Belmont, Co. Offaly who was the winner in the Rail Category. Professor Padraic O'Donoghue, Dean of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway, said: "This continued success in national level competitions is indicative of the high standards of our degree programmes in Engineering and Informatics. I would like to congratulate Therese and Kieran on their awards and I acknowledge the dedication of their project supervisors in Industrial Engineering." Ms Mary Dempsey, Industrial Engineering NUI Galway, said: "The engineering students' innovations are reflected in their success in winning prestigious awards from CILT. I am extremely proud of Therese and Ciarán and acknowledge their dedication and commitment to the logistics project. Indeed, the safety and environment project has been requested by Mr. Noel Brett, Road Safety Authority as the RSA would like to see such devices utilised by professional drivers. - Ends –

Academics and industry professionals working in the field of photonics (light and laser technology) will meet on 17 April for NUI Galway's annual LightFORUM conference. The conference theme is 'Skills & Knowledge Development - Photonics in New Products and Manufacture'. The event will feature case-study presentations from industry representatives as well as speakers from state agencies on support for upskilling in industry. This year, the keynote speaker will be Eugene Arthurs, Executive Director of SPIE, the international society advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light, with more than 17,500 members globally. The annual meeting is organised by LightFORUM, the outreach activity of the National Centre for Laser Applications (NCLA) and Applied Optics Groups at NUI Galway. LightFORUM provides a framework in which scientists and professionals in industry can explore and develop interactions of mutual interest. Tony Flaherty of the NCLA explained, "Photonics has long been a fundamental technology for manufacturing and is now commonplace in a range of applications developed by Irish-based industry. The strength of NUI Galway's photonics research and expertise is supporting this development. The University is home to the largest group of laser and optics scientists and engineers in the country, with total of 50 staff in this area. This annual meeting is an important opportunity for bringing together industry and the photonics research community." Attendance at the event is free to professionals in Irish industry. For more information or to reserve a place, contact Tony Flaherty by email: tony.flaherty@nuigalway.ie or tel: +353 91 493 595. -ends-

A public lecture entitled 'The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – New Dawn or False Hopes?' will be given by Professor Jerome Bickenbach at NUI Galway on Monday, 14 April, at 7pm. Professor Bickenbach will talk about the concept of equality that underpins the new UN Disability Convention. His lecture will be of interest to persons with disabilities, their representative organisations, families, carers and service providers. Originally from Canada, Professor Bickenbach is one of the foremost international authorities on ethical, philosophical, and legal issues in disability policy. Working recently with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, he played a central role in drafting its International Classification of Functioning, a framework for measuring health and disability at both individual and population levels. During his visit to Ireland, Professor Bickenbach will be a guest of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the Faculty of Law in NUI Galway. Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of Centre, said: "We are delighted to welcome such a highly engaging speaker. Jerome helped WHO completely rethink its understanding of disability and steered it away from an excessive reliance on 'medical approaches' toward a more 'socialised approach'. This approach places the problems of disability on the barriers confronting the person – rather than on the individual person. This 'social approach' to disability had a dramatic effect in the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which Ireland has signed and is due to ratify". All members of the public are welcome to attend this free event. The lecture will take place at 7pm in NUI Galway (Áras Moyola, ground floor, Room 127, North Campus). Refreshments will be served afterwards. Those wishing to attend or those with special requirements can contact 087 6660634 or email: disability@nuigalway.ie. For further information, visit website: www.nuigalway.ie/law/news.html -ends-